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Governor’s new policy could give more Virginians the chance to restore voting rights sooner

Posted at 6:25 PM, Apr 18, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-18 18:26:39-04

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- Governor Terry McAuliffe is working on making restoring voting rights easier on some felons who have served prison time.

Governor McAuliffe says the new policy will allow more Virginian offenders to have voting rights restored sooner than they can be currently, through a new process that is both more 'transparent and responsive.'

McAuliffe plans on removing drug crimes from the list of offenses that require a waiting period before voting rights can be restored.

The governor is also reducing the waiting period for violent offenders to three years instead of the previously required five.

The amendment will take effect on April 21, 2014.